Tufting machine



Dec. 9, 1947. 5, CHARLES 2,432,469

TU FTING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

ARTIS ELME R CHARLES AT TORNEY Dec.- 9, 1947, A. E. CHARLES 4 2,432,469

TUFTING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1947 a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 IIIII,IIIIIIII III/III i k INVENTOR. ARTIS ELMER CHARLES ATTo RN EY.

Patented Dec. 9, 1947 TUFTING MACHINE Artis Elmer Charles, Guntersville, Ala., assignor to Carolyn Chenilles, Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application March 10, 1947, Serial No. 733,61

This invention relates to a process and machine for producing tufts on a base material, and relates more particularly to a novel process and machine for simultaneously producing a plurality of tufts on a web of textile fabric, which tufts may be spaced from each other a predetermined distance,

In Patent No. 2335,48? to Cobble et 2.1. there is shown and described a multiple needle tufting machine which is designed toproduce in single operation up to over two hundred stitches, or tufts, running laterally of the machine. By omitting certain of the needles on said machine, the lateral spacing of the tufts is easily arranged. It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel and relatively simple means for longitudinally spacing the tufts which may be-formed of one or more stitches.

Another object of this invention is to provide auxiliary drive means for the feed shaft of a multiple needle tufting machine so that, at a predetermined interval in the normal feed of the fabric web, the rate of the fabric web feed is momentarily increased whereby a space of predetermined extent is formed between the tufts being formed longitudinally of the fabric web, without effecting the normal reciprocation of the needle bank. I

A further object of this invention is a novel process for the producing on a base comprising a web of textile fabric a plurality of tufts in spaced relationship.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, together with certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will appear from the following detailed description and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown,

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a multiple needle tufting machine modified in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View, on an enlarged scale, of the rear 'of a multiple needle tufting machine, showing my novel auxiliary drive means for the web feed shaft;

Fig. 3 is a top view of details of auxiliary drive means; and

Fig. 4 is a side view thereof.

4 Claims. (01. 112-79) the needle bank is titches or loops will be equally spaced and relar Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Since the multiple needle tufting machine to which my novel auxiliary drive means is attached is fully shown and described in the abovementioned Cobble et a1. patent,I will describe this well-known mechanism only to such extent as is necessary properly to disclose the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the multiple needle tufting machine is shown as comprising a drive shaft 5 which is driven by a motor 6 through a belt 1 connecting a pulley 8' fixed to the drive shaft 5 and a pulley 9 carried by motor shaft II. The drive shaft 5 actuates the .needle bar of the machine; the fabric web feed mechanism, generally indicated by reference numeral l3, through a connecting rod l4; and the looping'and loop cutting mechanisms of the machine through aconnecting rod l5.

More specifically, the feed mechanism comprises a shaft l6 which is journaled in bearings I! attached to the framework N3 of the machine. Along the shaft l6 are fixed in any desired order a plurality. of serrated or toothed discs [9 over which the fabric web 2| being tufted is trained after it is fed past the needle bank. For holding the fabricweb against the serrated discs l9 there is provided a gripper 22, one for each-disc, which is removably mounted in a suitable slotted holder 23, carried on a bar 24 extending substantially across the width of. the machine. The bar 24 is fixed to a rod 25 rotatably mounted in bearings 26 on the framework l8 of the machine. A handle 21 is fixed to rod 25 and is adapted to lift simultaneously all of the grippers 22 relative to the serrated --discs l9. -The gripper comprises a finger 28, preferably of resilient metal, which is bentso that it may conform to the curvature of the periphery of the. disc 19 and partially ,surroundsaid periphery. Operatively connected to rod I4 is a rocker arm '29 which is attached to a clutch mechanism 3| which is adapted to move the serrated discs, and thereby the fabric web, a stitch length, usually about onesixteenth of an inch.- Rocker arm 29 reciprocates continuously to cause .Clutch 3! to rotate.shaf.t

l5 intermittently to feed the fabric web While in raised position. Thus the tively close together to form a tuft of the desired number of stitches or loops which may be two, three, four or more, depending upon the size of the tuft desired.

When the tuft of predetermined number of stitches or loops is completed, the fabric web is fed past the needle bank a greater amount than is caused to be fed by the clutch 3|, thereby providing a space between the tufts, this space being about three-eighths of an inch but which may be greater or less as desired. To effect the variation in the feed of the fabric web, I have provided an auxiliary teed. mechanismwhich may be readily attached to a multiple needle tufting machine with little or no modification of the elements thereof as will hereinafter appear.

To the connecting rod l5, which normally operates the looping and loop cutting mechanisms of the multiple needle tuftingmachine above identified, is attached a bracket structure generally indicated by reference numeral 32 (see Fig. 1). Pivotally mounted on said bracket structure 32 is one end of a bent arm 33--Which-extends through an opening 34 in the frameWork lB -of the machine.

The other end of print arm 33 is pivotally mounte" on a bolt 35 adjustably held in "a slot 36 in a lever arm 31. The lever arm is pivotally mounted on a bolt 38' fixed to an angular bracket 39 attached, as by screw bolts 41, to framework it of the machine. 7 x

The lever arm 37 carries a bolt'42on which is pi'votally mounted a pawl 4 3 which cooperates with a ratchet wheel' l l having teeth 45 of predetermined size for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The ratchet wheel is mounted, as by means; of a collar is and set screw 41, on the end of feed shaft 16 remote from the end on which clutch Si is mounted. A spring 48 attached at one end to a pin '49 carried by pawl 43 and at its other end to a pin5l fixed to bracket 39 serves to maintain pawl 43 in contact with the .ratchet wheel 44.

In describing the operation of the multiple needle tufting machine as modified in accordance with my invention, it will be assumed that each tuft is composed of four stitches or loops. Asin the normal operation of the machine, the connectingtrod 44 causes rocker arm v29 to reciprocate and each stroke of said rocker arm away from the machine causes clutch-3| to turn feed shaft t6 and the serrated .discs .l9.mo1inted thereon a sufficient distance toJmove the .Lfabric web 2! a stitch length. Asmodified, the'ratchet wheel 34- is :also rotated by the turningloi": feedshaft 16. At the same time and at .thesame periodicity as the reciprocationof rocker arm. 29, bent arm 33 is caused to reciprocate by connecting rod 15, thus causing lever arm 37 and pawl "43 to reciprocate. However, the ratchet wheel teeth 45 are .of such size that on the four turns of thefeed shaft 1%, wherein each turn .moves the fabric webs-a stitch length,.thepawl-=43 moves on the .top .surface52 of a tooth of the'ratchet wheel without affecting the normal turning, i, e., feeding,

movement of the feed shaft. On the fourth stroke .of the rocker, ,arm, the feed shaft .moves the ratchet "wheelisolthat the;pawl.on.its=forward reciprocation stroke strikes the endsurface 5333f the to move the ratchet wheel. The fe :shatthas .thu's superimposed upon it an au i r "feeding movement, which movement. .is at a greater rate .o'f.speed than the normal intermittent stitchllength movement effected :by the mev'ementroiahe by: themclser armlfi.

The extent of the auxiliary feeding movement effected by the movement of the ratchet wheel by the pawl may be varied or adjusted by changing the size of the teeth of the ratchet wheel and/or by adjusting the position of the bolt 35 in the slot 36 in the lever arm 37.

The embodiment of my invention shown and described herein is to be considered merely as illustrative, as my invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for forming in a web of mate rial tufts, composed of a predetermined number of stitches or loops by a plurality of needles reciprocated by the main shaft and wherein the web is fed progressively through said machine a distanceof a stitch length at a time by means in cluding a feed shaft intermittentl rotated by .a connecting, rod operatively connected to said main shaft, means for spacing said tufts comprising separate means fixed to said feed shaft and a-connecting rod operatively connected to saidmain shaft for operating said means fixed to said feed shaft to rotatesaid feed shaft at spaced intervals at a faster rate of speed than, it isv normally :rotated.

2. In a machine for forming in a web'of material tufts composed of a predetermined number of stitches or loops by a plurality of needles recip located by the main shaft and wherein the web is fed progressively through said machine a distance of a stitch length at a time by means ineluding a feed shaft intermittently rotated by a connecting rod operatively connected to said main shaft, means for spacing said tufts comprising a ratchet wheel fixed to said feed shaft, a pawl for moving said ratchet wheel and a connecting rod operatively connected to said main shaft and to said pawl for reciprocating: said pawl to move said ratchet wheel to rotate said feed shaft at spaced intervals at a rate of, speed faster than it is normally rotated.

3. In a machine for forming in a web of mate-- rial tufts composed of a predetermined number of stitches or loops by a plurality of needles reciprocated by the main shaft and wherein the web is fed progressively through said machine a distance of a stitch lengtlrat a time by means including a .feed shaft intermittentlyrotated by a clutch operated byaconnecting rod operatively connected to said main'shaft, means-for spacing said .tufts comprising .alratchet wheel :fixed ..to said feed shaft, a pawl for moving saidmatchet wheel .and :a connecting rod voperatively connected to :said :main shaftand to .said pawl ifor reciprocating said pawl to .move said ratchet wheel to rotate said feed shaft at spaced. intervals 'at a faster rate of speed :than it .isrotated by said clutch.

.4. Ina'machineforformmg in:a web of material tufts composed .of a predetermined number of stitches or loops by.a .p ftirality .ofneed esreciprocated by the main shaft and-wherein the web is fed progressively throu h -said machine a distance of .a stitch length ata time by means including .a feed shaft intemnittently rotated icy a clutch operated by a connecting .liod .operatively connected to said main shaft, means for spacing said tufts comprising a ratchet wheel, having .aplurality of teeth .eachhaving alfiat surface and an end face at an angle to .said surface, fixed to said feed shaft, .a pawl for moving said :ratchet wheel and a connecting rod operatively connected to said main shaft andto .said pawl forreciproeating said pawl to move said ratchet wheel to rotate said feed shaft at spaced intervals at a faster rate of speed than it is rotated by said clutch, the construction and arrangement being such that an end face of a tooth is moved into path of said reciprocating pawl only after a predetermined number of Web feeding movements of said clutch.

ARTIS ELMER CHARLES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Morley July 22, 1890 Sakellarides Oct. 8, 1935 Wilcox Aug. 4, 1942 Patey Sept. 26, 1944 Kile Dec. 3, 1946 Lentz June 24, 1947 

